How Can I Bow and Scrape to Men of Power

Xie Chengze, the Second Prince of the Jian'an Dynasty, transmigrates into the body of a vicious villain from the novel The Powerful Minister. In the original story, this prince is known for his cruelty, his illegitimate birth, and his eventual execution by the protagonist, Shen Yuan, who impales him with a sword on the Dragon Throne. Having read the novel, Xie Chengze is terrified of this fate and resolves to abandon all ambition for the throne. He decides to live as a lazy, indulgent slacker, enjoying his wealth and privileges without interfering in court politics or harming his siblings. His primary goal is simply to survive and avoid the murderous protagonist.

Upon waking in the palace, Xie Chengze immediately alters his behavior. During morning court, instead of aggressively competing with the Crown Prince, Xie Jinyu, for the Emperor's favor, he appears drowsy and uninterested. When the court debates flood relief for Yi Province, Xie Chengze unexpectedly yields the opportunity to propose solutions to Xie Jinyu, confusing his brother and the ministers. He then requests sick leave, feigning a serious illness to avoid future court duties. This sudden change in demeanor raises suspicions among the royal brothers. Xie Jinyu, who is calculating and suspicious, interprets Xie Chengze's actions as a new, cunning strategy, while the naive Fourth Prince, Xie Zimiao, worries that his brother is dying.

The core conflict intensifies with the arrival of Shen Yuan, the novel's protagonist and the grandson of the Grand Tutor. Shen Yuan has also been reborn; he remembers his previous life where he killed Xie Chengze to avenge loyal officials and the common people suffering under the prince's tyranny. Determined to prevent history from repeating itself, Shen Yuan seeks to eliminate Xie Chengze early. However, he is equally confused by the Second Prince's behavior. When Xie Chengze meets Shen Yuan, he does not react with the usual hatred and violence. Instead, he acts shy and even offers to share his collection of romance novels, specifically those about male-male relationships. This bizarre reaction unnerves Shen Yuan, who begins to suspect that Xie Chengze might also be reborn and is playing a deeper game to hide his intentions.

A key turning point occurs when Xie Chengze is tasked with overseeing the collection of donation silver from officials for the Yi Province relief fund. In the original story, Xie Chengze would have used this opportunity to harass honest officials and enrich himself. Instead, he identifies the lowest donor, Censor Chen, an upright official, and deliberately donates one copper coin less than Chen to take the penalty himself. This act of unexpected generosity confuses the officials and improves his reputation slightly, though it also draws more scrutiny from Xie Jinyu. Later, when Emperor Jian offers Xie Chengze the position of Spring Examination supervisor as a reward, Xie Chengze feigns illness and heart conditions to decline, further deepening the mystery surrounding his transformation.

The story direction shifts as Xie Chengze attempts to maintain his low profile while navigating the dangerous political landscape. He relies on his two personal guards, Wuhen and Wuji, who are fiercely loyal but accustomed to the original host's violent methods. Xie Chengze tries to redirect their skills toward menial tasks, such as peeling fruit, rather than assassination. Meanwhile, Shen Yuan continues to watch Xie Chengze closely, testing him and waiting for the old villain to resurface. The tension between the two men grows as they engage in a psychological battle, each trying to decipher the other's true nature. Xie Chengze's efforts to lie low are constantly challenged by the Emperor's expectations and the political machinations of the Crown Prince, forcing him to walk a delicate line between appearing harmless and avoiding the fatal attention of the reborn protagonist.